High blood pressure: Having this sleeping disorder means a higher risk – do you do this?

High blood pressure does not normally have major symptoms for a person to be aware of, hence the reason the disease is often referred to as the “silent killer”. The undetected symptoms left untreated could cause more serious problems such as heart disease, stroke or kidney disease. When a person snores very loudly it could be a dangerous risk for developing high blood pressure. Loud snoring is commonly associated with sleep apnea due to the blockage in the airway that compromises breathing.

Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. Having obstructive sleep apnea increases the risk of high blood pressure.

This is due to oxygen levels falling which triggers receptors in the brain. The result is that the brain sends a message to the blood vessels to increase the available oxygen to the heart and brain so the body can keep functioning.

This increase in blood flow puts pressure on the blood vessels’ walls, elevating levels to higher than normal.

For someone with obstructive sleep apnea, the risk of high blood pressure is greater.

There are many studies suggesting that sleep apnea and high blood pressure are a dangerous pair.

A BMJ study investigated sleep apnea and high blood pressure and looked at the sleep-disordered breathing which is prevalent in the general population and has been linked to chronically elevated blood pressure.

Data was studied from a population-based study of the association between measured sleep-disorders breathing and hypertension.

A 2014 study looked at obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension and noted that sleep inefficiency and short sleep duration have been postulated as potential contributors to elevated blood pressure.

The John Hopkins school of public health confirmed a possible connection between sleep paean and hypertension in both older and middle-aged adults.

The study found those who suffer from moderate to severe sleep apnea were at increased risk of having high blood pressure.

Lead author of the study, Javier Nieto said: “As a result of this study, we now believe that sleep apnea may be one of the reasons why overweight people are at increased risk for high blood pressure.”

Cardiosmart said on their website: “Research suggests that anywhere from 30 –50 per cent of patients with high blood pressure have sleep apnea.

OSA is a long-term condition and may cases require lifelong treatment. Treatment for OSA may include making lifestyle changes and using a breathing apparatus while you sleep

NHS

“However, sleep apnea is much more common in patients with resistant hypertension, who have tried a variety of high blood pressure treatments but can’t get their condition under control.

“Resistant hypertension is a major public health issue, as uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to serious complications.

“The good news is that treatment for sleep apnea may aid in lowering blood pressure levels.